Learn English – the origin of “the lay of the land?”

idioms

The meaning is quite well established and straightforward—from TheFreeDictionary:

  1. (Lit.) The arrangement of features on an area of land. (Also with lie, especially British English.) "The surveyor mapped the lay of the land." "The geologist studied the lay of the land, trying to determine if there was oil below."

  2. (Fig.) The arrangement or organization of something other than land. "As soon as I get the lay of the land in my new job, things will go better." "The company's corporate structure was complex, so understanding the lay of the land took time."

But what is the origin of its figurative meaning? Does it predate frontier America?

Best Answer

The specifics are proving rather elusive. However, yourdictionary.com notes:

A related expression is how the land lies, as in Let's be cautious till we know how the land lies. This usage originated in Britain about 1700 as the lie of the land and is still so used there.

The modern definitions for 'lay' (or 'lie' for British English) do not include the meaning needed for this idiom, but must have at some point. That, or some other factor is needed to explain from whence the phrase evolved. The word which does fit the expression—layout—didn't turn up until 1910, according to etymonline.com. 'Layout' also implies a root definition for 'lay' that has been lost (well, transferred, anyway).

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